MESA, Ariz. - A four-run second inning proved to be enough for the fifth-seed Northern Colorado Bears to picked up their first ever WAC tournament win, 6-4, over Utah Valley on Wednesday at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz.
After Northern Colorado struck first int he top of the first on a Cole Maltese RBI single, the Bears tacked on four runs to take a 5-0 lead after a frame and a half. Utah Valley got on the board with a couple runs in teh bottom of the third and UNC answered back with another run in the fourth to keep the lead at four runs.
UVU added a run each in the fifth and eighth but it wasn't enough to avoid moving the the losers bracket as the Bears took the win.
Dylan Shiraki earned the win for UNC, allowing one hit in one inning after taking over for starter Troy Watson. Jackson Cofer took the loss for UVU, alloweing six runs on 11 hits in three innings pitched. Connor Leedholm picked up his second save of the season, pitching a quick ninth.
Northern Colorado advances to play either second-seed CSU Bakersfield or top-seed NM State on Thursday. Utah Valley will take on either Sacramento State or Seattle U in a loser-out game on Thursday morning at 11 a.m.